Denis Dupere keeps a picture of his crowning NHL moment on the wall in his kitchen. The native of Jonquiere, Quebec, in Maple Leaf blue, is seen leaping past sprawling Canadiens' netminder Rogie Vachon in celebration of his first-ever NHL goal.

Dupere made the journeyman's march to the big leagues via the Kitchener Rangers of the OHA and the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League. By 1970, the Leafs acquired the weighty winger for third- and fourth-line duty. Dupere was a defensive specialist who had a knack for winning face-offs and could effectively deceive goaltenders with his strong wrist shot off the wrong foot.

In 1974, Dupere joined the Washington Capitals where he scored twenty goals and fulfilled a dream as the Caps choice for the All-Star game. "I was shaking when I hit the ice," he recalled. "Seeing all those guys -- Lafleur, Dryden, Esposito, Orr. You can't beat a thrill like that!"

Dupere's career wound down with stops in St. Louis, Kansas City and finally, in Colorado where he retired in 1978. After the NHL, Dupere played briefly in France.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1964-65

Jonquiere Marquis

QJHL

1965-66

Jonquiere Marquis

QJHL

1965-66

Jonquiere Marquis

M-Cup

3

1

1

2

0

1966-67

Jonquiere Marquis

QJHL

1966-67

Kitchener Rangers

OHA-Jr.

4

1

1

2

0

1967-68

Kitchener Rangers

OHA-Jr.

54

35

24

59

22

19

2

7

9

20

1968-69

Ottawa Nationals

OHA-Sr.

5

4

4

8

7

1968-69

Canada

Nat-Tm

1969-70

Omaha Knights

CHL

72

33

19

52

35

12

5

7

12

11

1970-71

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

20

1

2

3

4

-1

6

0

0

0

0

1970-71

Tulsa Oilers

CHL

48

20

34

54

40

1971-72

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

77

7

10

17

4

+5

5

0

0

0

0

1972-73

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

61

13

23

36

10

-4

1973-74

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

34

8

9

17

8

+3

3

0

0

0

0

1974-75

Washington Capitals

NHL

53

20

15

35

8

-41

1974-75

St. Louis Blues

NHL

22

3

6

9

8

+4

1975-76

Kansas City Scouts

NHL

43

6

8

14

16

-8

1976-77

Colorado Rockies

NHL

57

7

11

18

4

+3

1976-77

Rhode Island Reds

AHL

4

3

3

6

0

1977-78

Colorado Rockies

NHL

54

15

15

30

4

+9

2

1

0

1

0

1977-78

Hampton Gulls

AHL

1

2

0

2

0

1977-78

Philadelphia Firebirds

AHL

12

3

2

5

10

1978-79

1979-80

Nelson Maple Leafs

WIHL

10

2

5

7

1980-81

HC Lyon

France

18

16

11

27

NHL Totals

421

80

99

179

66

16

1

0

1

0

Played in NHL All-Star Game (1975)

Traded to Toronto by NY Rangers to complete transaction that sent Tim Horton to NY Rangers, (March 3, 1970), May 14, 1970. Claimed by Washington from Toronto in Expansion Draft, June 12, 1974. Traded to St. Louis by Washington for Garnet Bailey and Stan Gilbertson, February 10, 1975. Traded to Kansas City by St. Louis with Craig Patrick and cash for Lynn Powis and Kansas City's 2nd round pick (Brian Sutter) in 1976 Amateur Draft, June 18, 1975. Transferred to Colorado when Kansas City franchise relocated, July 15, 1976.